Braeview Academy - plans for next week

In the days since the devastating Braeview Academy fire, school staff have been working tirelessly to implement our contingency plans and get the young people affected back in classes.

Supported by colleagues across the council and partner agencies, they have created a short-term timetable and identified school accommodation to ensure the disruption to learning is minimised.

Putting plans in place for around 570 pupils is very challenging, and that work will continue into next week.

However, we can now confirm that senior pupils (from S3 to S6) will start a temporary timetable at Craigie High School from next Wednesday (September 19). The remaining young people (S1 and S2) will begin a temporary timetable at Baldragon Academy the following Monday (September 24).

These are short term measures while we continue to assess the significant damage that the fire has caused to the Braeview building.

Buses will be provided free to get all pupils to and from their classes. This may mean some minor alterations to start and finish times. We will confirm further details of this, and pick up locations, early next week at the parent meeting. Full details will also be available on the council’s website.

Children and families convener Stewart Hunter said: “I appreciate that this is not an ideal situation for anyone concerned, but we are dealing with the aftermath of a very serious fire which has put a major portion of this secondary school out of commission.

“I’m grateful for the continued patience of Braeview pupils and their families while we put suitable measures in place. We have done this as quickly as we possible could and we have tried to keep the school community fully informed about developments during a very challenging time.

“I want to pay tribute to the school staff, education colleagues and others who have done incredible work to ensure the majority of pupils are back in classes just a week after the devastating blaze.

“I would like to thank the two partner schools at Baldragon and Craigie High for working with us and showing understanding at this difficult time. These schools have the capacity to take on the numbers of pupils they will be receiving in the short term from Braeview, and we appreciate the help and support that has been offered.

“Please be assured that our plans will not impact on the education of existing pupils at those two schools, while allowing us to get those from Braeview back into classroom studies as quickly as possible.”

Pupils from Braeview continue to be encouraged to use online learning – available via the Glow network – next week, and to follow the school’s social media accounts for guidance.

School staff will also be online next week for any young person who needs help.

Councillor Hunter continued: “I have been heartened by the way the entire community has rallied around Braeview in the last few days. It has been an emotional time and I know staff have taken strength from the various offers of support too.

“A number of organisations have proposed opportunities to run classes and events for affected pupils in different locations next week, and we will be providing more details of these soon.”

Meanwhile, a meeting to update parents and carers will take place on Monday (September 17) at 6.30pm in the North East Campus in Lothian Crescent. This is a change to the original location to accommodate the numbers expected to attend.

We would ask that, due to the capacity of the building, only one parent or carer per family attends. Pupils should not attend.

Councillor Hunter said: “We will also provide further updates to the school community whenever we can as our work continues to put in place a longer-term solution for the Braeview pupils and staff.”

Any families who have specific concerns about their children should email braeview@dundeecity.gov.uk leaving a contact number and a member of school staff will respond as soon as possible.